Breaded Sauteed Goat Cheese Patties Recipe

These goat cheese patties will work as an appetizer1, side dish, or a full meal with a few accompaniments. The goat cheese used here is chevre, as opposed to feta2. The recipe is easily multiplied.
Ingredients:
1 cup soft goat cheese (chevre)
1/4 cup fine bread crumbs
Freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Optional Accompaniments:
English muffins or little toasts
Olives
Thinly sliced radishes
Thinly sliced cucumber
Tiny cherry tomatoes
Preparation:
Place about 2 tablespoons of the cheese3 on a piece of plastic wrap. Cover with another piece of plastic wrap, and gently pat and "massage" the cheese into a patty 2 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick. (You can also skip the plastic wrap, and just use your hands. Dampen them first, so the cheese won't stick.) Repeat with the rest of the cheese. You should have 8 patties.

Place the bread crumbs on a plate, grind in some fresh black pepper, and stir to mix. Press the cheese patties into the crumbs until coated on both sides and around the edges.

Place a heavy, nonstick skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, wait about 30 seconds, then swirl to coat the pan. When the skillet is very hot, add the coated cheese patties and saute for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown, adding more oil if necessary. When they are done to your liking, transfer the sauteed patties to a plate lined with a double thickness of paper towels.

Serve hot or very warm, sprinkled with more freshly ground black pepper, along with your choice of accompaniments.

Yield: About 4 servings (2 patties each); easily multiplied
Cook's Notes:
Crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, these patties are a luxurious treat. Eat them plain or accompanied by little toasts and some vegetables and olives. They also fit perfectly on an English muffin or tucked inside a cooked portobello mushroom. You can make these ahead of time and store them in an airtight wrapper or container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They reheat very quickly (about 20 seconds on High) in a microwave. You can also keep the patties warm in a 300-degree F oven just after cooking them.

Recipe Source: Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Cafe4 by Mollie Katzen (Hyperion)
Reprinted with permission.